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SAVING HER
BY HARLOW LAYNE
CHAPTER ONE
HARLEY
I stared out the window as we pulled up to our new house. This was supposed to be the start of something new and better, but how could that be when we’d left the only home I’d ever known—left the memories of him behind. There would be nothing of him now. I’d be alone as she tried to forget.
Movement in the window next door caught my eye. Standing there with a light shining behind him like an angel stood a boy about my age. The only thing I could see was that he had dark hair and that he was tall. He moved away before I could catch more than a glimpse of him.
My mom came into view. Her short blonde hair was disheveled, and her blue eyes were blank. “You can’t sit in the car forever.”
“We shouldn’t be here,” I spat out, crossing my arms over my chest.
“Well, you’re only seventeen and under my care. Once you turn eighteen, you can do whatever you want to do.”
“Thanks for caring, Mom.” I stepped out of the car and bumped into her to get her out of my way. If she was going to be a bitch about this, then so would I.
“Harley,” she sighed out my name. It should have been because she was sorry, but it wasn’t. The only thing she was sorry about was that I was still her problem.
“Don’t bother. I’ll stay out of your hair, so you can live your happy new life.” Squatting down, I tightened my shoelaces. “I’m going to go for a run. Don’t wait up.” I said it even though I knew she wouldn’t. She’d be with the man she’d replaced my father with, smiling and getting her happy ending while I was drowning in regret and grief.
She crowded my space. I straightened, looking down at my mother. I loved that I was taller than her now. “I said, I’m going for a run.”
“No, you’re not.” she squared off against me. “You’re going to take things up to your room and unpack. If you don’t?—”
“You’ll what? Take away the only thing I have left?” I growled. After all the bullshit she’d put me through, I wouldn’t let her take away my running. It was the only solace in my otherwise dark world.
“Just put your things away. It shouldn’t take you long.”
Yeah, no shit. She’d barely let me bring anything from our old house here. Most days, I wondered if she wanted to leave me behind too. She probably would have if she could get away with it.
Pulling my suitcase out of the back, I wheeled it up to the front door. Narrowing my eyes at my mother and her boyfriend, Trent, I cleared my throat, attempting to get them out of my way and break apart. I didn’t like the fact that she looked at Trent the way she used to look at my dad.
How was it so easy for her to forget him when he was all I thought about morning, noon, and night?
With my hands on my hips, I squared my shoulders as I glared at them. “I thought you wanted me to unpack.”
“Hi, Harley,” Trent said. His eyes raked over me, making my insides feel sick. I didn’t like the way he always looked at me. I’d told my mother numerous times that I didn’t like how his pervy eyes took me in, but she either didn’t believe me or didn’t care.
I tipped my chin up at him and waited for them to get out of my damn way. If they didn’t move, I was ready to leave all of my earthly possessions out here and for them to be gone by the time I got back.
They must have seen something in my eyes because they broke apart and let me inside. Not that I knew the lay of the house or anything. This was the first time I’d stepped foot inside. Which was pretty messed up if you asked me, but no one was asking.
It didn’t even take thirty minutes for me to hang up my wrinkled clothes and put the few personal items I had in the bathroom.
Tightening my ponytail as I descended the stairs, I didn’t bother to speak to either of them as I passed where they were sitting in the living room. The second I stepped foot outside the front door, I ran. And not a jog either. My body went full out as I tried to forget the last year of my life.
To forget that I’d left all my friends behind.
To forget that I’d lost the only parent that cared about me.
CHAPTER TWO
HARLEY
My feet pounded on the blacktop. I had no idea where I was going since my mother hadn’t bothered to even show me around. All she could think about was moving in with Trent. I was just a nuisance put into their path until I turned eighteen.
